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Jason Bourne

By this stage in the supposedly dead Bourne franchise, following the commercial and critical failure of ‘Legacy’ (which I actually liked) you wouldn’t think we’d see Matt Damon play the eponymous rogue agent again. However most likely a big pay cheque and some fan anticipation lured him back and here we have Jason, formerly presumed dead after ‘Ultimatum’ getting back in touch with Julia Styles’ ex-CIA agent. She’s uncovered info on Jason’s deceased father and that he may have been involved in the government programme that Jason was in before Jason lost his memory. Wanting to uncover more and quickly learning that CIA chief Tommy Lee Jones may have the answers, soon Jason is back hiding from cameras and a particularly deadly assassin (Vincent Cassel).

I liked how this mixed the usual Bourne formula with some relevant and topical themes, such as a side plot involving a social media guru clearly modelled on Mark Zuckerberg and Facebook. Damon as always is brilliant and nails Bourne’s character again; deadly but vulnerable and well, he kicks ass like nobody else (I’m looking at you Mr Bond). Cassel was a nice surprise too, one of my favourite French actors and here he’s particularly ruthless. Jones, whilst looking old still chews up the screen and is perfectly cast and although Julia Stiles is a bit under-used she helps bridge the gap between the third movie and this fifth entry. For a Bourne movie it’s a tad formulaic, ticking all the boxes (ooh look a female agent takes pity on him…again) and well we get the expected car chase. Helps though it’s probably the best chase in the franchise through the neon glitz of the Las Vegas strip.

For fans of the franchise, this is a strong, highly-entertaining entry full of tension and style, even if it does little to truly warrant it’s existence beyond ‘let’s do another one’. Regardless I had a ball with this and you might too. Recommended.